Decorative pull bow made with two or more layers of same or different width of ribbon

ABSTRACT

The objectives of the invention are to create an attractive, yet affordable, cost effective decorative bow for any occasion; create a single bow with an option of forming it into at least three different looks achieved by different positioning of ribbon layers; create a pull bow which uses less drawstrings than previous pull bow inventions; create a decorative bow which allows even distribution of colors when two or more ribbon layers are used given that the one ribbon color per layer is used.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to forming a decorative pull bow comprising of the two or more layers of same or different width of ribbon material. Ribbon material can be any material used to make decorative bows, such as fabrics made of natural or synthetics fibers, extruded polypropylene, film, satin acetate, vinyl acetate, tulle, netting and yarns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Decorative Pull Bows constructed for use on gift packaging as described in previous patents, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,515,837, 4,608,283, 4,476,168, 4,822,648 and 2,841,905 have been known in the United States for several decades as inexpensive, instant, self forming bows. Decorative Pull bows comprise of at least one longitudinal foldable ribbon. Multiple segments are spaced along the said foldable ribbon. The segments can be same or of a different length. At least one drawstring runs parallel with the said foldable ribbon.

The foldable ribbon and the drawstrings are connected with plastic clips, staples or wire at the narrowest points. When the drawstrings are pulled, the segments fold to form loops. Pulling drawstrings along the said foldable ribbon automatically arrange loops into a symmetrical order. When the drawstrings are pulled to the end, a bow is formed.

While previous inventions allow combination of two or more colors in a pull bow, the process involved in constructing such bow includes actual cutting of ribbon segments in different colors which are then combined to display colors in a desired way. This involves additional labor to connect all pieces together. More materials need to be used because segments have to overlap each other before being connected together with plastic clips, staples or wire. This construction bears a risk of a bow becoming easily torn when the drawstrings are pulled and the overlapping parts of segments move in an unpredictable manner causing connecting clips to fall or break.

My invention solves that problem by eliminating need to cut ribbon in segments. And instead positioning at least one new layer above the basic pull bow. The layers are then connected with plastic clips, staples or wire same way as segments are connected in a basic pull bow. Layers must mirror each other in length and die cut, but the materials used, the width of the ribbons and colors can be different. The objective is to achieve look of a traditional floral bows.

Traditional floral bows are known for centuries as pre-notched bows (hanks). Hanks comprise of hand or machine wound ribbons, stapled or tied by drawstrings to create two multilayered ribbon sections. Each ribbon layer comprises of two loops, one on each side of a hank. Hanks are transformed into floral bows by pulling and twisting one loop at a time as opposed to pull bows which form in a single motion. The multilayered construction of hanks allows various combinations of ribbon materials and colors resulting in floral bows with a better festive appeal in comparison with the pull bows.

An average, a traditional floral bow as used in weddings require approximately 3 minutes of work to properly pull loops from hanks in order to form a perfect half sphere shaped bow comprising of, for example, 24 loops. The motions of properly pulling, twisting and primping loops involves the fine wrist action and as such fully rely on a user's ability to complete said task by applying proper tension to each motion so that the loops don't slip back into their hank (a pre-bow) position. These features discourage many users from assembling hanks themselves so that they opt for more expensive ready made floral bows assembled by professional florists.

My invention uses pull bow construction to ensure perfect bow shape at an instant. From there a user can arrange loops by sliding them apart from each other as opposed to pulling and twisting loops as required to make a traditional floral bow. Arranging, for example 24 loops of a two layer pull bow requires less than a minute as opposed to 3 minutes needed to arrange same number of loops in a traditional floral bow. My invention is a cost effective, perfectly shaped decorative bow which resembles look of a traditional floral bow, allows an increase in number of loops or width of the loops and allows alternation of colors and materials in a way which has not been been achieved with past pull bow inventions.

OBJECTIVES OF INVENTION

1/ It is an objective to enhance appeal of a decorative pull bow by adding one or more layers of ribbons to its known construction as described in previous inventions, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,168, 4,515,837, 4,822,648 and

2/ It is an objective to use:

-   -   Same and/or different widths of the ribbon for said layers     -   Same and/or different colors of the ribbon on said layers     -   Same and/or different ribbon materials can be used for each or         all said layers.

3/ It is an objective to expand use of decorative pull bows from its standard application as a gift packaging decorations to a decoration suitable for more festive ceremonies such as wedding party, church pews, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries where more attractive bow designs are appreciated and sought.

4/. It is an objective to use decorative pull bow made with two or more layers of ribbon to achieve look of traditional floral bow as used in wedding ceremonies and for special occasions.

5/ It is an objective to reduce the length of the drawstrings to lower the cost of material.

6/ It is an objective to create a decorative pull bow which can be displayed in at least 3 different ways and these are:

1. As a decorative pull bow formed after the drawstrings are pulled to display at least on color on the outside of the loops and at least one on the inside of the loops.

2. As a decorative pull bow formed after the drawstrings are pulled and the inner and outer loops are slightly moved apart by a user. This motion creates new 2 color effect by bringing inner color next to the outer color as shown in FIG. 4. This motion also increase the width of the loops resulting in a more fuller look of the bow.

3. As a decorative pull bow formed after the drawstrings are pulled and the inner and outer loops are fully separated by a user. This results in doubling the total number of initial loops when a pull bow is a made with the two ribbon layers, tripling the total number of loops when a pull bow is made with three layers and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a decorative pull bow made with two or more layers of same or different width of ribbon. The invention can be comprised of any ribbon material such as: natural or synthetic fabrics, tulle, netting, extruded polypropylene, vinyl acetate, or satin acetate ribbon or foam rubber sheets. Using cutting tool a ribbon is die cut into a certain shape to produce plurality of segments. The two tiny ribbon strings are positioned in longitudinal direction in between the two bands of the first ribbon layer.

All ribbon layers and the drawstrings are then connected with plastic, staple or wire fasteners at the narrowest portion (neck) of each section. The length and shape of sections determines final 3 dimensional look of the bow. On the current invention, when the two inner strings are pulled each section creates two loops. Because my invention uses two or more layers or ribbons, each section will create 4 or more loops subject to total number of ribbon layers.

Ribbon layers combined in a bow can be of the same or different widths and materials. Those combinations can produce multitude of new design variations. For example, ribbon layers do not have to be always separated or only certain number of loops in a bow can be separated. Sliding ribbon layers and separating them at a very small angle or, depending on a number of loops and color combinations, not separating loops at all, produces equally attractive yet different look from the one achieved by full separation of ribbon layers. In other words a pull bow with the two or more ribbon layers can be assembled in at least 3 ways to display 3 different design effects.

The purpose of invention is to create an affordable, practical, suitable for mass production, economical for shipping and storing, yet attractive decorative bow with a better festive appeal than basic pull bow as used for gift wrapping and that such a bow does not require any skills on the part of a user to make it look perfect as if it was constructed as a traditional floral bow assembled by a professional florist.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a completely folded two layered pull bow 10 The second layer covers and fully encloses first layer. The first layer covers and encloses the drawstrings 12. Layers are connected with each other and the drawstrings 12 with plastic clips, staples, wire or any similar device 18. The connection is loose to allow pulling of drawstrings.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a partially unfolded two layered pull bow. The second layer 14 covers first layer 16. Drawstrings 12 and ribbon layers 14,16 have at least one open end where all bands are left loose.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of loops forming when the drawstrings are pulled. Two ribbon layers remain together facing each other.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a formed two layered pull bow with the loops slightly moved apart. Loops are moved manually to increase the width of the loops and bring bottom color on top which creates esthetically appealing effect especially when the layers are made in different material and/or color.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of formed two layered pull bow with loops fully separated. The total number of loops is doubled so the bow looks much fuller.

FIG. 6 shows a process of separating loops where a/ is a loop in its initial stage with two ribbon layers fully facing each other; b/ loops are slightly moved apart by sliding from each other; c/ loops are fully separated and gently tacked one under another 

1. A bow assembly comprising: at least two pairs of strips overlapping each other and folded in half, bonded at the point of folding with a drawstring, staples or any type of connecting device wherein, a strip on the bottom comprising of at least two bands after being folded is called first layer and the strip resting on top of the first layer comprising of at least two bands after being folded is called second layer; at least one drawstring is bonded to said two pairs of strips and is positioned to run in the longitudinal direction between two bands of the first layer; said two pairs of strips mirror each other comprising plurality of segments, spaced along their longitudinal direction. Each segment starts and ends with a curved or diagonally cut narrow point (neck) where both layers of strips and the drawstring are connected with plastic clips, staples, wire or similar device so as to permit relative movement of strips and drawstrings along longitudinal direction. When the drawstrings are pulled, the segments of both layers become loops thus forming a bow wherein each loop consists of at least two layers of ribbon.
 2. A bow forming assembly as claimed in claim number 1 wherein: Said first and second ribbon layer are slidably and therefore separable after the drawstrings are pulled.
 3. A bow forming assembly as claimed in claim number 1 wherein The method of separating loops comprise of manually sliding first and second layer apart from each other and gently tucking the first under second layer. The roots of each, in such way separated pair of loops, are to be slightly pinched to ensure the loops don't slip back under one another. To ensure even distribution of loops, separation of the first and second layer starts from the bow's bottom row and spiral around the bow toward the top. 